Plow with blade wing

ABSTRACT

A plow assembly has a blade, structure attached to the blade and adapted to be attached to a vehicle for mounting the blade to and supporting the blade from the vehicle, and a wing attached to an end of the blade. The wing has a first portion mounted for movement along the blade to and between a retracted position and an extended position, and a second portion mounted in fixed relation relative to the first portion at an angle relative thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to plows for moving any plowablematerial, and more particularly to vehicle mountable plows for movingsnow and having one or more plow blade wings to aid the plow blade inmoving the snow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of plows for mounting on pickup trucks, sport utilityvehicles (“SUV's”), “skid steers,” and other vehicles for moving snow isin use. Among the plows in use are straight blade plows and centerhinged blade V-plows.

Another type of plow in use employs rotating, translating, or rotatingand translating wings mounted on the ends of the plow blade. Translatingwings are useful for configuring the blade of the plow in a longerextended length for plowing, and in a shorter retracted length for overroad travel. Rotating wings are useful for configuring the blade of theplow into “bucket” and/or “pusher” configurations. In the bucketconfiguration, the wings are angled forwardly relative to the plowblade, typically at an angle of about 30°. In the pusher configuration,the wings are angled forwardly relative to the plow blade at an angle ofabout 90°. In either case, the forwardly angled wings prevent snow fromsliding off the ends of the blade during plowing. Of course, if desired,one or the other of the wings could be forwardly angled relative to theplow blade, rather than both, depending on the snow conditions,obstacles encountered during plowing, etc.

Examples of plows having wings which both rotate and translate aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,442,877, 6,412,199, 6,408,549, 5,899,007,and 5,638,618, all assigned to Blizzard Corporation, Calumet, Michigan,and all hereby incorporated by reference herein. Each of these patentsdescribes a plow having a slide mechanism and a hinge mechanism foradjustably mounting a wing to each end of the plow blade. Hydrauliccylinders are mounted to the snow plow blade for use in adjusting, i.e.,rotating and translating, the plow wings.

The plows of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,442,877, 6,412,199, 6,408,549, 5,899,007,and 5,638,618 are not without criticism. The slide mechanisms can besubject to galling from snow, ice, salt, and corrosion, and thus cansuffer from premature wear. More powerful, and hence heavier, hydrauliccylinders can be required to actuate the slide mechanisms if corroded,frozen, etc. due to increased sliding frictional forces. The dualhydraulic cylinders which impart translating and rotating motion to thewings can add to the cost, complexity, and weight of the plow. The hingemechanism can also be subject to galling from snow, ice, salt, andcorrosion, and thus it too can suffer from premature wear. Morepowerful, and hence heavier, hydraulic cylinders can be required toactuate the hinge mechanisms if corroded, frozen, etc. due to increasedtorsional resistance.

It is desirable to improve upon current snow plows in use by providing aplow which is configurable to and between a longer extended length forplowing and a shorter retracted length for over road travel, and whichis also configurable into bucket and/or pusher configurations, yet whichdoes not suffer from the drawbacks of the plows of U.S. Pat. Nos.6,442,877, 6,412,199, 6,408,549, 5,899,007, and 5,638,618.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the hinge mechanism and its associated adjustinghydraulic cylinder of the plows of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,442,877, 6,412,199,6,408,549, 5,899,007, and 5,638,618 is eliminated and the wing isfixedly mounted at an angle. In this aspect, the invention is a plowassembly comprising a blade, structure attached to the blade and adaptedto be attached to a vehicle for mounting the blade to and supporting theblade from the vehicle, and a wing attached to an end of the blade. Thewing has a first portion mounted for movement along the blade to andbetween a retracted position and an extended position, and a secondportion mounted in fixed relation relative to the first portion at anangle relative thereto.

The first portion of the wing can be mounted for translational movementalong the blade, for example, sliding movement along, for example, aforward side of the blade. The plow assembly can include an actuator formoving the first portion of the wing along the blade. The actuator canbe a hydraulic cylinder. The second portion of the wing can be mountablein fixed relation relative to the first portion of the wing at at leasttwo different angles relative thereto.

In another aspect, the invention is a plow assembly comprising a blade,structure attached to the blade and adapted to be attached to a vehiclefor mounting the blade to and supporting the blade from the vehicle, anda wing attached to an end of the blade. The wing is selectably mountablein fixed relation relative to the blade at at least two different anglesrelative thereto.

The wing can be mountable in fixed relation relative to the blade atangles of about 0° and about 30°, of about 0° and about 90°, of about30° and about 90°, and/or of about 0°, about 30°, and about 90°.

In another aspect, the slide mechanism of the plows of U.S. Pat. Nos.6,442,877, 6,412,199, 6,408,549, 5,899,007, and 5,638,618 is eliminatedand the wing is mounted for rolling movement. In this aspect, a theinvention is a plow assembly comprising a blade, structure attached tothe blade and adapted to be attached to a vehicle for mounting the bladeto and supporting the blade from the vehicle, and a wing attached to anend of the blade. The wing is mounted for rolling movement along theblade to and between a retracted position and an extended position. Thewing can have a first and second portion, with the first portion mountedfor rolling movement along the blade to and between a retracted positionand an extended position, and the second portion mounted to the firstportion at an angle relative thereto.

The first portion of the wing can be mounted for rolling movement alonga forward side of the blade. The plow assembly can include an actuatorfor moving the first portion of the wing along the blade. The actuatorcan be a hydraulic cylinder. The second portion of the wing can bemounted in fixed relation relative to the first portion of the wing. Thesecond portion of said wing can be mountable in fixed relation relativeto the first portion of the wing at at least two different anglesrelative thereto. The second portion of the wing can be mounted forrotating movement relative to the first portion of the wing. The plowassembly can include an actuator for moving the second portion of thewing relative to the first portion of the wing. The actuator can be ahydraulic cylinder.

Blade assemblies for plow assemblies are also provided.

The plow of the invention can thus be lighter, simpler, less expensive,and less prone to wear than plows having complicated rotating andtranslating wings wherein the wing rotates on a hinge mechanism, thewing translates on a slide mechanism, and two hydraulic cylinders areused to adjust the rotation and translation of the wing.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become morereadily apparent during the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the drawings herein, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective of a plow assembly according to theprinciples of the invention,

FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of the left end of the blade assembly of theplow assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating the blade wing in the retractedposition,

FIG. 1B is a view similar to FIG. 1A illustrating a first portion of theblade wing in the extended position and a second portion of the bladewing mounted in fixed relation relative to said first portion at anangle relative thereto.

FIGS. 2A-C are top views of the left end of the blade assembly of FIGS.1, 1A, and 1B illustrating the second portion of the blade wing mountedin fixed relation relative to the first portion at three differentpositions relative thereto,

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the blade assembly of FIGS. 2A-C,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1A but of an alternative embodiment ofthe invention, and

FIG. 5 is a top view similar to FIGS. 2A-C but of yet anotheralternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a plow assembly 10according to the principles of the invention. The plow assembly 10includes a blade assembly 20 and structure 30 (shown in phantom)attached to the blade assembly 20 and adapted to be attached to avehicle (not shown) for mounting the blade assembly 20 to and supportingthe blade assembly 20 from the vehicle.

Blade assembly 20 includes a blade 40 which can have one or morestiffening ribs, for example stiffening ribs 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64,and 66, along a rear side thereof. Blade 40 can also have one or morestiffening torque tubes, e.g., upper and lower torque tubes 70 and 72,respectively, along upper and lower edges, respectively, of the rearside of blade 40. Ribs 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, and 66 can be rigidlyaffixed to torque tubes 70 and 72 to increase the stiffness of the blade40. At least one wing 80 is attached to at least one end of the blade40. For example, a pair of wings can be attached to the opposite ends ofblade 40, such as wing 80 attached to left hand end of blade 40 and wing82 attached to right hand end of blade 40. Since the constructions ofwings 80 and 82 are identical, only left hand wing 80 will be describedin detail.

A first portion 84 of wing 80 is mounted for movement, for example,translational movement, sliding movement, etc., along the blade 40, forexample along the forward side of the blade 40, to and between aretracted position (FIGS. 1 and 1A) and an extended position (FIG. 1B).A second portion 86 (shown in phantom in FIG. 1B) of wing 80 is mountedin fixed relation relative to the first portion 84 at an angle relativethereto. First portion 84 of wing 80 can include one or more stiffeningribs, for example stiffening ribs 90 and 92, along a rear side thereof.First portion 84 of wing 80 can also have one or more stiffening torquetubes, for example, upper and lower torque tubes 94 and 96,respectively, along upper and lower edges, respectively, of the rearside of first portion 84. Ribs 90 and 92 can be rigidly affixed totorque tubes 94 and 96 to increase the stiffness of the first portion84. Torque tubes 94 and 96 can be of a smaller diameter than torquetubes 70 and 72 so that extensions thereof 94 a and 96 a thereof cantelescope into and out of torque tubes 70 and 72, respectively.

An actuator, for example a hydraulic cylinder 100, can be included formoving the first portion 84 of the wing 80 along the blade 40. Thecylinder portion 102 of hydraulic cylinder 100 can be mounted betweenribs 52 and 54 of blade 40, whereas the rod portion 104 of the hydrauliccylinder 100 can be attached to rib 90 of first portion 84 of wing 80.Hydraulic cylinder 100 can be, for example, a Lion 2500 PSI Heavy DutyTie Rod Hydraulic Cylinder, with a 2 inch bore and 16 inch stroke, Model# 20TL16-112, available from Northern Tool and Equipment, Burnsville,Minn.

Referring now to FIGS. 1B, 2A-C, and 3, second portion 86 of wing 80 isillustrated. Second portion 86 is mounted in fixed relation relative tothe first portion 84, albeit in three different positions.

As shown in FIG. 2A, second portion 86 is fixedly mounted to firstportion 84 at about 0°. As an example, bolts 110 and nuts 112 can beused to secure flange 114 of second portion 86 to rib 90 of firstportion 84 via a first set of bolt holes in flange 114 and rib 90.Additional reinforcement of second portion 86 to first portion 84 can beincluded. For example, upper and lower L-shaped brackets 120 can eachhave a leg 124 and a foot 126. Foot 126 can be attached to rear side ofsecond portion 86. Leg 124 can have a plate 128 mounted thereto whichextends laterally inwardly. Rib 90 can have a plate 130 mounted theretowhich extends laterally outwardly below plate 128. Each of the platescan have a plurality of holes spaced along their lengths. A pull pin 132can be installed through aligned holes in the plates 128, 130, dependingon the position in which second portion 86 is fixedly mounted to firstportion 84.

As shown in FIG. 2B, second portion 86 is angled forwardly relative tofirst portion 84 by about 30°, and is fixedly secured there by bolts 110and nuts 112 passing through, for example, a second set of bolt holes inflange 114 and rib 90. Wedge shaped spacers 140 can be interposedbetween flange 114 and rib 90 for a secure bolted connection.

As shown in FIG. 2C, second portion 86 is angled forwardly relative tofirst portion 84 by about 90°, and is fixedly secured there by bolts 110and nuts 112 passing through, for example, a third set of bolt holes inflange 114 and rib 90. Right angle or cube shaped spacers 142 can beinterposed between flange 114 and rib 90 to make the bolted connection.

If desired, wing 80 need not included a portion mounted for movementalong the blade 40 to and between retracted and extended positions. Inthat case, wing 80 would include only portion 86 mounted in fixedrelation relative to the blade 40, in multiple different positions.

Thus, no hinge mechanism is utilized to mount the second portion 86 ofthe wing 80 to first portion 84 of the wing 80 in FIGS. 1A-C. Rather,second portion 86 is mountable to first portion 84 in fixed relationthereto in each of three different relative positions, 0°, 30°, and 90°.Eliminating the hinge eliminates its inherent reliability problems fromthe plow assembly. It also eliminates the need for a hydraulic cylinderto adjust the angle of the wing, thereby eliminating its reliabilityproblems as well as reducing the cost of the plow assembly and reducingits weight.

Referring now to FIG. 4, and with like numbers representing likeelements, first portion 84 of wing 80 is mounted for rolling movementalong blade 40. For example, blade 40 can include a series of rollers150 mounted on axles 152 supported from tabs 154 pressed out of blade40. Second portion 86 of wing 80 can be mounted to the first portion 84at an angle relative thereto. Second portion 86 can be mounted in fixedrelation to first portion 84 as discussed above in connection with FIGS.2A-C. Alternatively, second portion 86 can be mounted for rotatingmovement relative to the first portion 84 of the wing 80 via, forexample, a hinge 160 as shown in FIG. 5. An actuator, for example ahydraulic cylinder, can be included for moving the second portion 86 ofthe wing 80 relative to the first portion 84 of the wing 80.

If desired, no second portion 86 of wing 80 need be included in the plowassembly. In that case, wing 80 would include only portion 84 mountedfor rolling movement along blade 40 to and between retracted andextended positions.

Thus, no slide mechanism is utilized to mount the first portion 84 ofthe wing 80 to the blade 40 in FIGS. 4 and 5. Rather, first portion 84is mounted for rolling movement along blade 40 to and between retractedpositions and extended positions. Eliminating the slide mechanismeliminates its inherent reliability problems from the plow assembly.

While hinge 160 for mounting second portion 86 of wing 80 to firstportion 84 of wing 80 for relative rotating movement therebetween hasbeen described as being used in conjunction with rollers 152 formounting first portion 84 of wing 80 for rolling movement relative toblade 40, hinge 160 could also be used in conjunction with theembodiment of FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B, 2A-C, and 3, that is to say theembodiment without rollers 152.

The embodiments of the invention shown and described are merely forillustrative purposes only. The drawings and the description are notintended to limit in any way the scope of the invention as defined inthe claims. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will readily recognizevarious changes to, and additional embodiments of, the invention, all ofwhich will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the claims. For example, while the invention has been shown anddescribed in the context of straight blade plows, the invention can alsobe practiced with V-plows. And, while the invention has been shown anddescribed in the context of plowing snow, the invention can also bepracticed with other plowable materials. Further, while the inventionhas been shown and described in the context of being attached to thefront of a vehicle and being pushed, the invention can also be practicedby being attached to the rear of the vehicle and being pulled. Yetfurther, while the invention has been shown and described as beingattached to pickups, SUV's, and skid steers, the invention can bepracticed by being attached to other vehicles. Accordingly, theinvention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims andtheir equivalents.

1. a plow assembly comprising: a blade, structure attached to said bladeand adapted to be attached to a vehicle for mounting said blade to andsupporting said blade from the vehicle, and a wing attached to an end ofsaid blade, said wing having a first portion mounted for movement alongsaid blade to and between a retracted position and an extended position,and a second portion mounted in fixed relation relative to said firstportion at an angle relative thereto.
 2. The plow assembly of claim 1wherein said first portion of said wing is mounted for translationalmovement along said blade.
 3. The plow assembly of claim 1 wherein saidfirst portion of said wing is mounted for sliding movement along saidblade.
 4. The plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said first portion ofsaid wing is mounted for sliding movement along a forward side of saidblade.
 5. The plow assembly of claim 1 further including an actuator formoving said first portion of said wing along said blade.
 6. The plowassembly of claim 5 wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder. 7.The plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said second portion of said wing ismountable in fixed relation relative to said first portion of said wingat at least two different angles relative thereto.
 8. A blade assemblyfor a plow assembly comprising: a blade adapted to be mounted to andsupported from a vehicle, and a wing attached to an end of said blade,said wing having a first portion mounted for movement along said bladeto and between a retracted position and an extended position, and asecond portion mounted in fixed relation relative to said first portionat an angle relative thereto.
 9. The blade assembly of claim 8 whereinsaid first portion of said wing is mounted for translational movementalong said blade.
 10. The blade assembly of claim 8 wherein said firstportion of said wing is mounted for sliding movement along said blade.11. The blade assembly of claim 8 wherein said first portion of saidwing is mounted for sliding movement along a forward side of said blade.12. The blade assembly of claim 8 further including an actuator formoving said first portion of said wing along said blade.
 13. The bladeassembly of claim 12 wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder. 14.The blade assembly of claim 8 wherein said second portion of said wingis mountable in fixed relation relative to said first portion of saidwing at at least two different angles relative thereto.
 15. A plowassembly comprising: a blade, structure attached to said blade andadapted to be attached to a vehicle for mounting said blade to andsupporting said blade from the vehicle, and a wing attached to an end ofsaid blade, said wing having a first portion mounted for rollingmovement along said blade to and between a retracted position and anextended position, and a second portion mounted to said first portion atan angle relative thereto.
 16. The plow assembly of claim 15 whereinsaid first portion of said wing is mounted for rolling movement along aforward side of said blade.
 17. The plow assembly of claim 15 furthercomprising: an actuator for moving said first portion of said wing alongsaid blade.
 18. The plow assembly of claim 17 wherein said actuator is ahydraulic cylinder.
 19. The plow assembly of claim 15 wherein saidsecond portion of said wing is mounted in fixed relation relative tosaid first portion of said wing.
 20. The plow assembly of claim 15wherein said second portion of said wing is mountable in fixed relationrelative to said first portion of said wing at at least two differentangles relative thereto.
 21. The plow assembly of claim 15 wherein saidsecond portion of said wing is mounted for rotating movement relative tosaid first portion of said wing.
 22. The plow assembly of claim 21further including an actuator for moving said second portion of saidwing relative to said first portion of said wing.
 23. The plow assemblyof claim 22 wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.
 24. A bladeassembly for a plow assembly comprising: a blade adapted to be mountedto and supported from a vehicle, and a wing attached to an end of saidblade, said wing having a first portion mounted for rolling movementalong said blade to and between a retracted position and an extendedposition, and a second portion mounted to said first portion at an anglerelative thereto.
 25. The blade assembly of claim 24 wherein said firstportion of said wing is mounted for rolling movement along a forwardside of said blade.
 26. The blade assembly of claim 24 further includingan actuator for moving said first portion of said wing along said blade.27. The blade assembly of claim 26 wherein said actuator is a hydrauliccylinder.
 28. The blade assembly of claim 24 wherein said second portionof said wing is mounted in fixed relation relative to said first portionof said wing.
 29. The blade assembly of claim 24 wherein said secondportion of said wing is mountable in fixed relation relative to saidfirst portion of said wing at at least two different angles relativethereto.
 30. The blade assembly of claim 24 wherein said second portionof said wing is mounted for rotating movement relative to said firstportion of said wing.
 31. The blade assembly of claim 30 furtherincluding an actuator for moving said second portion of said wingrelative to said first portion of said wing.
 32. The blade assembly ofclaim 31 wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.
 33. A plowassembly comprising: a blade, structure attached to said blade andadapted to be attached to a vehicle for mounting said blade to andsupporting said blade from the vehicle, and a wing attached to an end ofsaid blade, said wing mounted for rolling movement along said blade toand between a retracted position and an extended position.
 34. The plowassembly of claim 33 wherein said wing is mounted for rolling movementalong a forward side of said blade.
 35. The plow assembly of claim 33further including an actuator for moving said wing along said blade. 36.The plow assembly of claim 35 wherein said actuator is a hydrauliccylinder.
 37. A blade assembly for a plow assembly comprising: a bladeadapted to be mounted to and supported from a vehicle, a wing attachedto an end of said blade, said wing mounted for rolling movement alongsaid blade to and between a retracted position and an extended position.38. The blade assembly of claim 37 wherein said wing is mounted forrolling movement along a forward side of said blade.
 39. The bladeassembly of claim 37 further including an actuator for moving said wingalong said blade.
 40. The blade assembly of claim 39 wherein saidactuator is a hydraulic cylinder.
 41. A plow assembly comprising: ablade, structure attached to said blade and adapted to be attached to avehicle for mounting said blade to and supporting said blade from thevehicle, and a wing attached to an end of said blade, said wingselectably mountable in fixed relation relative to said blade at atleast two different angles relative thereto.
 42. The plow assembly ofclaim 41 wherein said wing is mountable in fixed relation relative tosaid blade at an angle of about 0° and at an angle of about 30°.
 43. Theplow assembly of claim 41 wherein said wing is mountable in fixedrelation relative to said blade at an angle of about 0° and at an angleof about 90°.
 44. The plow assembly of claim 41 wherein said wing ismountable in fixed relation relative to said blade at an angle of about30° and at an angle of about 90°.
 45. The plow assembly of claim 41wherein said wing is mountable in fixed relation relative to said bladeat an angle of about 0°, at an angle of about 30°, and at an angle ofabout 90°.
 46. A blade assembly for a plow assembly comprising: a bladeadapted to be mounted to and supported from a vehicle, and a wingattached to an end of said blade, said wing selectably mountable infixed relation relative to said blade at at least two different anglesrelative thereto.
 47. The blade assembly of claim 46 wherein said wingis mountable in fixed relation relative to said blade at an angle ofabout 0° and at an angle of about 30°.
 48. The blade assembly of claim46 wherein said wing is mountable in fixed relation relative to saidblade at an angle of about 0° and at an angle of about 90°.
 49. Theblade assembly of claim 46 wherein said wing is mountable in fixedrelation relative to said blade at an angle of about 30° and at an angleof about 90°.
 50. The blade assembly of claim 46 wherein said wing ismountable in fixed relation relative to said blade at an angle of about0°, at an angle of about 30°, and at an angle of about 90°.